Chapter 126

In the county office, Li Wenqing was like a wound-up top, spinning around the room.

Translation: In the xian ya, Li Wenqing was like a wound-up top, spinning around the room.

In the Xian Ya, Li Wenqing was like a wound-up top, spinning around the room.

like a wound-up top

He kept muttering nonstop:

Translation: He kept muttering nonstop:

He kept muttering nonstop:

It's over, it's over, we're completely done this time!

Translation: "It's over, it's over, this time it's completely over!"

Jiang Xiaomu sat in the chair, rubbing his temples, looking at him helplessly.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu sat in the chair, rubbing his temples, looking at him helplessly.

Lord Li, can't you calm down? You're making my head spin.

Translation: "I say, Sir Li, can't you calm down a bit? You're making my head spin."

Li Wenqing abruptly stopped, seized Jiang Xiaomu's arm, and said with a grim face:

Translation: Li Wenqing suddenly stopped, grabbed Jiang Xiaomu's arm in one grip, and said with a mournful face:

Mr. Jiang, you don't realize—this situation has gotten out of hand!

Translation: "Mr. Jiang, you don't know, this matter has blown up!"

The Liu Assistant Official family, over ten people, were all killed!

Translation: "Assistant Official Liu's family of over ten people were all killed!"

Now the whole city is in an uproar, even Magistrate Zhao has been alarmed.

Translation: "Now the whole city is in turmoil, even Prefect Sir Zhao has been alarmed!"

Three days have passed with no clues—how can I stay calm?

Translation: "Three days have passed, and there's not a single clue—how can I stay calm?"

Jiang Xiaomu sighed, understanding Li Wenqing's anxiety.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu sighed; he could understand Li Wenqing's anxiety.

In the Liu Assistant Official massacre, many were killed, the methods were brutal, the impact severe, and the killer spared not even the children.

Translation: The massacre of Assistant Official Liu's family had many victims, cruel methods, a vile impact, and the killer didn't even spare the children.

If we don't crack the case soon, it will not only cause public panic.

Translation: If the case isn't solved quickly, it will not only cause panic among the populace,

It will also harm the county office's reputation, and even Magistrate Zhao's official hat could be at risk.

Translation: but also damage the reputation of the Xian Ya, and even Prefect Sir Zhao's official hat might not be saved.

Lord Li, I know you're worried, but worrying won't help.

Translation: "Sir Li, I know you're anxious, but being anxious won't help."

We need to stay calm, examine the case carefully, and then we can catch the killer.

Translation: "We need to calm down, analyze the case carefully, and then we can find the culprit."

Jiang Xiaomu tried to soothe Li Wenqing with a calm voice.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu tried to comfort Li Wenqing in a calm tone.

Calm? How can I stay calm? Damn it, over a dozen lives are at stake!

Translation: "Calm? How can I be calm! Damn, this is over a dozen lives!"

Liu Assistant Official was kind-hearted and had no enemies—who would be so cruel?

Translation: "Assistant Official Liu was usually generous and kind, hadn't offended anyone—who would be so ruthless as to do this?"

Li Wenqing burst into angry curses, his usual refined demeanor gone.

Translation: Li Wenqing flew into a rage and shouted curses; his usual refined elegance vanished.

Jiang Xiaomu knew Li Wenqing was a scholar, but he still had a sense of justice deep down.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu understood that although Li Wenqing was a scholar, he still had a streak of chivalrous righteousness at heart.

Given how gruesome this case is, he can't help but be upset.

Translation: This case is so brutal that he naturally couldn't stay calm.

Lord Li, I understand all that you've said.

Translation: "Sir Li, I understand all that you've said."

But shouting won't solve anything; we must find the murderer to bring peace to the victims and give the people an explanation.

Translation: "But cursing won't solve anything now; we need to find the killer to give the dead peace and provide the people with an explanation."

Jiang Xiaomu rose, patted Li Wenqing's shoulder, pushed him into the chair, trying to calm him.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu stood up, patted Li Wenqing's shoulder, pressed him into the chair, trying to calm him down.

Mr. Jiang, do you think the killer might be...?

Translation: "Mr. Jiang, you say, could the killer be……"

Li Wenqing lowered his voice, leaned in to Jiang Xiaomu's ear, and whispered a name.

Translation: Li Wenqing lowered his voice, leaned close to Jiang Xiaomu's ear, and spoke a name.

Jiang Xiaomu shook his head, dismissing Li Wenqing's suspicion.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu shook his head, rejecting Li Wenqing's guess.

It couldn't be him. Sure, he had a feud with Liu Assistant Official, but not enough to wipe out the whole family.

Translation: "It couldn't be him. Although he had some grudges with Assistant Official Liu, it wouldn't go so far as to commit this family massacre."

So who do you think it is?

Translation: "Then who do you think it is?"

Li Wenqing looked puzzled.

Translation: Li Wenqing looked bewildered.

Just as Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing were stumped, Captain Pudongyong marched in.

Translation: Just as Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing were at a loss, Constable Captain Pei Dongyong strode in.

He bowed with clasped fists and said:

Translation: He clasped his fists in a salute and said:

Sir, I've uncovered some leads.

Translation: "Sir, I've found some clues."

Li Wenqing, as if grabbing a lifeline, eagerly inquired:

Translation: Li Wenqing seemed to have grabbed a lifeline and asked eagerly:

Tell me, what are the clues?

Translation: "Quick, what clues?"

Pudongyong hesitated a moment, then said:

Translation: Pei Dongyong paused slightly, then said:

I looked into Liu Assistant Official's relationships.

Translation: "I investigated Assistant Official Liu's personal connections."

I found that he was partners with a merchant named Jin Buhuan.

Translation: "I discovered he was business partners with a merchant named Jin Buhuan."

They jointly operated the city's biggest inn, the 'Golden Top Scholar'.

Translation: "They jointly operated Wangjiang Cheng's largest tavern, the 'Gold Top Scholar'."

Recently, they had a heated dispute over the tavern's ownership.

Translation: "Not long ago, they had a fierce argument over the tavern's shares."

Jin Buhuan even threatened to kill the Liu family if Liu Assistant Official didn't comply.

Translation: "Jin Buhuan even threatened that if Assistant Official Liu didn't meet his demands, he would have the Liu family killed."

Oh? Really?

Translation: "Oh? Really?"

Li Wenqing frowned.

Translation: Li Wenqing furrowed his brows.

So what happened next?

Translation: "Then what happened?"

Afterward they appeared to have made up and ran the tavern normally again.

Translation: "Afterward, the two seemed to have reconciled and resumed normal operation of the tavern."

Pudongyong reported the facts.

Translation: Pei Dongyong reported truthfully.

I also checked Jin Buhuan's background; on the surface he appears clean, with no red flags.

Translation: "Furthermore, I looked into Jin Buhuan's background; superficially it was clean, with no issues found."

Jiang Xiaomu had been listening quietly; now he said:

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu had been listening silently, and now he spoke:

Just because something looks clean doesn't mean it is, Lord Li; I think we ought to meet this Jin Buhuan.

Translation: "A clean surface doesn't mean it's truly clean, Sir Li; I think we should go see this Jin Buhuan."

Li Wenqing slapped his knee and said:

Translation: Li Wenqing slapped his thigh and said:

Good! Mr. Jiang is spot on; let's go to the Golden Top Scholar now!

Translation: "Good! Mr. Jiang's words are spot on; let's head to the 'Gold Top Scholar' right now!"

The three of them immediately headed to the Golden Top Scholar tavern.

Translation: The three of them immediately set out for the "Gold Top Scholar" tavern.

The Golden Top Scholar truly lives up to its reputation as the city's largest tavern, with ornate beams, painted pillars, glittering splendor, a steady stream of guests, and a lively atmosphere.

Translation: The "Gold Top Scholar" truly lives up to being Wangjiang Cheng's largest tavern, with carved beams and painted pillars, glittering magnificence, a constant stream of guests, and extraordinary liveliness.

Led by the waiter, Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing entered a refined private room.

Translation: Under the guidance of the attendant, Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing arrived at an elegant private room.

Shortly afterward, a stout, greasy-faced man entered, greeting them with a clasped-hand smile.

Translation: Not long after, a portly man with an oily face entered, clasped his hands, and smiled:

Oh, your esteemed visit graces my humble establishment!

Translation: "Oh dear, both sirs honoring us with your presence—my humble abode is brightened!"

I'm Jin Buhuan; may I ask what brings you here?

Translation: "I am Jin Buhuan; may I ask what brings you here?"

Li Wenqing cut to the chase and said:

Translation: Li Wenqing got straight to the point:

Gold Boss, we came for the case of Assistant Official Liu's family extermination.

Jin Buhuan said with a sorrowful expression:

"Assistant Official Liu is my good partner; we made quite a bit of money doing business together."

"It's truly heartbreaking that such a thing has happened now! I don't know what instructions the two of you have."

Jiang Xiaomu observed Jin Buhuan without changing his expression; the man's face remained unchanged.

"Boss Jin, cut the nonsense—answer my questions truthfully. Did you and Assistant Official Liu have an argument over shares not long ago?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked in a calm tone.

Jin Buhuan laughed heartily.

"Ah, just minor friction in business."

"When partners do business, disagreements are inevitable, and conflicts are normal."

"It's not worth mentioning; besides, I've been good friends with Assistant Official Liu for years—how could we really get angry?"

"Really?" Jiang Xiaomu looked at him with a half-smile.

"As far as I know, you once threatened to take Assistant Official Liu's life."

Jin Buhuan laughed even harder, as if he'd heard a huge joke, and said:

"That's right, I did say that, but it was just angry talk."

"Killing someone is illegal—how could I possibly ruin my own future?"

"Just angry talk?" Jiang Xiaomu pressed him step by step.

"Boss Jin, a human life is of utmost importance—it can't be explained away with a mere angry remark."

Jin Buhuan took out a gilded smoke pipe, lit it, and continued laughing as he said:

"Sirs, I am truly innocent!"

"Although I had disputes with Assistant Official Liu, I certainly didn't kill his family!"

"Whether or not someone was killed is not up to you to decide."

Li Wenqing gave a cold snort.

"We will get to the bottom of the truth."

Seeing that Jin Buhuan showed no flaw, Jiang Xiaomu stopped pressing and instead said:

"Boss Jin, we're just conducting a routine inquiry; we hope you'll cooperate with our investigation."

Jin Buhuan laughed heartily, nodded, and said:

"Of course, of course—ask away, sirs; I, Jin Buhuan, will hold nothing back and tell you everything I know."

Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing asked a few more questions about Assistant Official Liu, but Jin Buhuan's answers were watertight, providing no useful clues.

As the sky grew dark, Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing rose to take their leave.

Jin Buhuan warmly saw them out of the restaurant, his face full of false smiles.

After leaving the "Golden Top Scholar," Li Wenqing said with a worried expression:

"Mr. Jiang, it seems Jin Buhuan is quite sly; we couldn't get any useful information out of him."